New Co-Sponsorship Memos Aim to Expand Housing Options Across Pennsylvania
Press contact: Stacie Reidenbaugh, President & CEO
10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania
sreidenbaugh@10000friends.org | (717) 368-7570
New Co-Sponsorship Memos Aim to Expand Housing Options Across Pennsylvania
Representatives Inglis, Khan, Zimmerman, Major, Smith-Wade-El, Green, Davidson, Solomon, Powell, and Scott introduced five key pro-housing memos
Harrisburg, PA – Today, Representative John Inglis released five co-sponsorship memos outlining a bipartisan effort to expand housing options for people all over Pennsylvania. Currently, Pennsylvania is facing a severe shortage of housing all across the Commonwealth that is harming our economy and the livelihood of our communities. Addressing this challenge requires urgent, collaborative action from the General Assembly.
“When people across the Commonwealth can’t find a home they can afford near their jobs or families, it’s time to try a new approach," said Stacie Reidenbaugh, President & CEO of 10,0000 Friends of Pennsylvania, co-chair of the PA Housing Choices Coalition. “We applaud the leadership of Representative Inglis and his bipartisan colleagues for advancing statewide land-use standards that will allow for a range of home types and sizes in growing communities across Pennsylvania”.
The memos introduced today lay the groundwork for legislation that would allow accessory dwelling units; permit duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes; modernize outdated occupancy standards; create a statewide needs assessment plan; and support transit-orientated development.
Earlier this year, Representatives Scott and Davidson also introduced a co-sponsorship memo that would reform outdated parking mandates, allowing flexibility for home builders, homeowners, and business owners to determine parking that reflects the demands of their community.
“Few regions in Pennsylvania have been harder hit by the housing crisis than Bucks and Montgomery Counties,” said Kristyn DiDominick, Executive Director of the Bucks-Mont Collaborative. “When people don’t have a safe, stable place to live, the impacts show up everywhere — in our workforce, schools, healthcare system, and across the social safety net. As families and communities evolve, policy needs to evolve too. We’re encouraged to see legislators from both parties recognizing the urgency and complexity of the crisis and taking a comprehensive, pragmatic approach to solutions.”
Together, these proposals represent an opportunity to set state standards and give communities better tools to grow sustainably, increase housing opportunity, and prevent more Pennsylvanians from being priced out of their communities.
“Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group applauds the introduction of statewide zoning and permitting reform legislation that takes meaningful steps toward removing construction barriers, increasing the much-needed supply of homes, and modernizing outdated zoning practices in communities across Pennsylvania. Thoughtful, responsible zoning reform is essential to ensuring our neighborhoods can grow in ways that are equitable, sustainable, and reflective of community needs,” said Chris Rosselot from Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group. “While this legislation is an important step forward, it is only one piece of the broader solution required to address Pennsylvania’s affordable housing crisis. We must pair zoning modernization with sustained homeownership investments, strong tenant protections, and policies that support long-term affordability. PCRG looks forward to working with partners across the Commonwealth to advance comprehensive, responsible solutions that ensure every Pennsylvanian has access to a safe, stable, and affordable home.”
We are calling on the General Assembly to pass statewide legislation that restores missing housing options, brings back starter homes, allows more housing near jobs and public transportation, and legalizes accessory dwelling units (ADUs).
The PA Housing Choices Coalition looks forward to reviewing the full bills once introduced and working with legislators on both sides of the aisle to ensure every community across the Commonwealth can thrive.
About PA Housing Choices Coalition
The PA Housing Choices Coalition is a statewide, nonpartisan alliance of organizations committed to one goal: expanding housing choices for all Pennsylvanians through smart, bipartisan policy. Co-chaired by 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania and Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, the coalition includes homebuilders, business leaders, economic experts, and more. Learn more: www.pahousingchoices.com.